Children's Room Lighting Shopping Guide

Lighting does more than just illuminate a room. Good lighting can lift moods, create a welcoming atmosphere, and completely transform a space, making it just as important as any other element of your room design. For the kids' room and nursery, reducing glare and fostering a sense of safety and comfort is the primary focus. This detailed guide will help you create a space for infants or children with ergonomic and pleasant lighting.

Whether we are talking about kids' room lighting or nursery lighting, there should be at least 2-3 light sources to layer within the room. For any child-friendly space, keep these lighting tips in mind.

Step 1: Choose the Type of Lighting Fixture:  

There are various types of kids' lighting that can add a unique feel to the kids' room and create a pleasant environment for your children. Let's analyze the different types of children's lamps and their characteristics:

Kids' Ceiling Lights:

Kids' ceiling lights include pendants, track lighting, or flush mounts installed on the ceiling. They provide uniform illumination throughout the entire room. You can choose fixtures with single or multiple light sources depending on the brightness requirements. A ceiling light is essential in every child's room as it serves as the primary source of general lighting.

Kids' Wall Lights:

Kids' wall lights (sconces) serve both decorative and functional roles. Adding a wall light next to the bed allows the child to turn off the main light before getting into bed while keeping a softer light on for reading or creating a relaxing atmosphere before sleep. Additionally, wall lights can be placed in areas where general lighting is insufficient to brighten up hard-to-reach spots.

Kids' Table Lamps:

Kids' table lamps are small fixtures that can be placed on the bedside table next to the bed for reading and relaxation. They also function perfectly as desk lamps, providing concentrated light on the desk surface so the child can study, paint, and play comfortably. Table lamps add focused illumination and extra style to the room.

Kids' Nightlights:

Kids' nightlights are small lights designed specifically to offer a soft glow during the night. Often featuring gentle brightness and cute designs, they provide a wonderful sense of security for your children. For ideal lighting, it is best to have fixtures from all four categories; however, if that isn't possible, a combination of a ceiling light, a table lamp, and a nightlight is essential.

Step 2: Choose the Design of the Kids' Lighting:

There is a wide variety of kids' lighting designs available, depending on your child's interests, style, and age. Here are some popular themes:

• Cartoons: Lamps featuring favorite characters from movies, animated series, or comics. Perfect for children who love specific heroes.
• Animal Designs: Fixtures with animals like lions, birds, butterflies, etc. These designs create a playful and friendly atmosphere.
• Space Themes: Lamps with stars, planets, and spaceships. Ideal for children interested in science and the universe.
• Fairytales: Lamps with princesses, princes, castles, and dragons. Suitable for children seeking a magical and enchanting vibe.
• The Natural World: Fixtures with plants, flowers, and trees. These designs can bring a sense of natural beauty to the room.
• Minimalist Designs: Lamps with simple and clean lines that discreetly decorate the room. Their understated design allows them to blend into any nursery or bedroom.

The choice of design depends on your child's preferences. Involving them in the selection process can be fun! It is also worth matching the design with the overall decorative style of the room, including the furniture, kids' or nursery linens, and rugs.

Step 3: Choose the Color of the Kids' Lighting:

The kids' lighting you will find at designdrops is offered in a vast variety of colors, providing a perfect opportunity for your little one to express their personal style while creating a pleasant atmosphere.

• Bright Colors: Colors like yellow, green, orange, and red add vitality and energy to the kids' room. They are ideal for children who love bold, vibrant shades.
• Soft Colors: Shades like pale pink, light blue, and white create a romantic, calming, and serene environment.
• Natural Colors: Colors such as brown, beige, and forest green can create a natural feel in the room and have a positive effect on a child's psychology. 
• Multicolor: Fixtures with many colors and patterns add a playful and whimsical vibe to the nursery or bedroom.
• Monochrome: Lamps in a single color, such as white or gray, provide a modern and elegant aesthetic and can easily be combined with any decor.

The choice of color depends on the style of the kids' room and the child's own preferences. If your child has specific favorite colors, incorporating them into the lighting helps create a more personal environment. You can also choose colors that complement the rest of the room's elements.

Step 4: Focus on Safety:

Safety is the absolute priority. Ensure that the fixtures are made from materials that are non-toxic and harmless to children. Choose lamps with a stable base to prevent tipping accidents. In children's bedrooms, safety must always come first as little ones are often magnetically drawn to light bulbs. This can pose a threat if the bulb is hot to the touch. Curiosity can lead to burns if a child touches a hot lamp. This can be prevented by explaining to your child that bulbs get hot and should never be touched. You should also explain that even the metal parts around a bulb can heat up, so they should be careful with those as well.

It is also important to choose low-wattage LED bulbs to reduce the risk of fire and prevent the bulb and fixture from overheating. LED bulbs do not get as hot, even when left on for long periods. At designdrops, you will find kids' lighting specifically designed for children, made from durable materials that do not break easily. They come with safety certifications according to European standards and are manufactured with child safety as the primary goal.

Step 5: Choose the Quality of the Kids' Lighting:

When choosing the material for a kids' light fixture, always pay close attention to safety and quality. By selecting materials that are durable, easy to maintain, and safe for children, you will acquire a fixture that withstands the test of time and adds style to the character of the kids' room.

Kids' Room Lighting Made of Plastic (Polypropylene & PVC & Polyester & Silicon):

• Safety: Plastic is lightweight and resistant to impacts and falls, making it safe for children.
• Ease of Cleaning: It is easy to wipe clean of liquids and stains.
• Color Options: Plastic allows for a huge variety of designs and vibrant colors.

Kids' Room Lighting Made of Wood & MDF:

• Natural Feel: Wood creates a warm and natural atmosphere in the room.
• Durability: High-quality wood is sturdy and lasts through the years.

Kids' Room Lighting Made of Metal & Aluminum & Steel:

• Modern Appearance: Metal gives a modern and dynamic aesthetic to the room.
• Durability: Metal fixtures are highly resistant to time, falls, and heavy use. 

Glass Kids' Room Lighting:

• Aesthetics: Glass creates shiny surfaces and reflects light, adding brilliance to the room.
• Design Choices: Various designs and textures of glass are available that can create unique and interesting fixtures. You can choose from transparent glass to patterned or colored glass.

Fabric Kids' Room Lighting:

• Softness: Fabric fixtures add softness and warmth to the room.
• Timeless Aesthetic: Fixtures with fabric shades have a timeless and classic aesthetic that can fit various decor styles.
• Decorative Options: Fabric shades offer a variety of choices in terms of designs, patterns, and colors. You can choose something that perfectly matches the theme of the kids' room.

When selecting the material for kids' lighting, focus on the safety, durability, and appearance of the material. You can also choose fixtures that combine different materials to create an original and safe kids' room that serves your child's needs and style.

Step 6: Should I Choose Kids' Lighting with an Integrated LED Light Source or Fixtures with a Bulb Socket to Add Myself?

The choice between kids' lighting with an integrated LED light source and fixtures with a bulb socket depends on your preferences, the needs of the kids' room, and safety factors. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of each option:

Kids' Lighting with Integrated LED Light Source:

Advantages:

• An integrated LED light source means you don't need to buy or replace bulbs.
• They typically offer uniform and bright illumination, and their lifespan is usually much longer than conventional bulbs.
• Most integrated LED sources are highly energy-efficient and consume less power.

Disadvantages:

• In the event of an LED source failure, the entire fixture will likely need to be replaced. 
• Options regarding light color temperature and specific brightness levels may be more limited.

Kids' Lighting with Bulb Socket:

Advantages:

• You can customize the type, color, and brightness of the LED bulb according to your preferences.
• If the bulb fails, you can simply replace the bulb instead of replacing the entire light fixture.

Disadvantages:

• You need to purchase the appropriate bulbs separately, and you should be careful with their specifications and durability.

With this guide, you are ready to choose the right kids' lighting to create a magical and safe environment for your children. An excellent source for obtaining children's lighting at unbeatable prices is the designdrops online store, where you will find a wide variety of designs and colors to make the kids' room even more beautiful and inviting. Don't forget to consider your children's needs, interests, and safety during the selection process. 

At designdrops you will find lighting buying guides and lighting cleaning guides, which contain valuable tips to help you choose the ideal lighting fixtures and keep them looking like new!